This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/16/revealed-prince-william-also-receives-highly-sensitive-cabinet-papers
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Revealed: Prince William also receives highly sensitive cabinet papers | Revealed: Prince William also receives highly sensitive cabinet papers |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prince William receives highly sensitive cabinet papers as well as his father, Prince Charles, it has emerged. | Prince William receives highly sensitive cabinet papers as well as his father, Prince Charles, it has emerged. |
| The second in line to the throne is sent confidential papers from the very top of government “occasionally” and “when relevant”, a royal source confirmed. | The second in line to the throne is sent confidential papers from the very top of government “occasionally” and “when relevant”, a royal source confirmed. |
| This follows news of the little-known access granted to Charles to the highest-level government dossiers, which was exposed in the Guardian on Tuesday after a three-year freedom of information battle by Republic, the campaign for an elected head of state. | This follows news of the little-known access granted to Charles to the highest-level government dossiers, which was exposed in the Guardian on Tuesday after a three-year freedom of information battle by Republic, the campaign for an elected head of state. |
| The government justified Charles’s access to the high level cabinet memorandums, which even ministers of state do not see, because he was heir to the throne. | The government justified Charles’s access to the high level cabinet memorandums, which even ministers of state do not see, because he was heir to the throne. |
| On Wednesday night it said William’s access was because he was “future heir to the throne”. The Guardian understands the amount of material William receives is more modest than that given to Charles or the Queen and includes material relating to countries where he is engaged in official overseas visits. | On Wednesday night it said William’s access was because he was “future heir to the throne”. The Guardian understands the amount of material William receives is more modest than that given to Charles or the Queen and includes material relating to countries where he is engaged in official overseas visits. |
| Related: Revealed: Prince Charles has received confidential cabinet papers for decades | Related: Revealed: Prince Charles has received confidential cabinet papers for decades |
| “The Duke of Cambridge is a senior member of the royal family and future heir to the throne and therefore of course it is appropriate that he is regularly briefed on government business,” a Cabinet Office spokesman said. | “The Duke of Cambridge is a senior member of the royal family and future heir to the throne and therefore of course it is appropriate that he is regularly briefed on government business,” a Cabinet Office spokesman said. |
| But Republic’s chief executive, Graham Smith, said: “There appears to be no good reason why William is getting this information. There is no mention of this access in the documents released this week. It appears to be a free-for-all.” | But Republic’s chief executive, Graham Smith, said: “There appears to be no good reason why William is getting this information. There is no mention of this access in the documents released this week. It appears to be a free-for-all.” |
| Labour has called for an inquiry, which Smith supports “so we can know how much information is being handed to which royals”. | Labour has called for an inquiry, which Smith supports “so we can know how much information is being handed to which royals”. |
| Charles “is one of the most powerful lobbyists in the country and he has more information than some of the ministers he is lobbying”, said Clive Lewis MP, a shadow minister. “That is not right or proper. There needs to be more transparency about his powers and his access to confidential briefings. Who authorises them and why has it been kept secret? It undermines public confidence in our democratic processes if you have to drag this information kicking and screaming into the daylight.” | |
| On Wednesdsay night the Cabinet Office declined to confirm or deny whether William was receiving cabinet files or comment on whether any other royals were. | On Wednesdsay night the Cabinet Office declined to confirm or deny whether William was receiving cabinet files or comment on whether any other royals were. |
| Prof Adam Tomkins, a constitutional lawyer, said Charles risked damaging the monarchy if he used the highly confidential cabinet papers to assist his lobbying. | Prof Adam Tomkins, a constitutional lawyer, said Charles risked damaging the monarchy if he used the highly confidential cabinet papers to assist his lobbying. |
| Tomkins, a professor of public law at Glasgow University, said: “The heir to the throne has unique access, with the Queen, both to government papers and to ministers. Were they minded to do so, they would be able to use that access to lobby. | Tomkins, a professor of public law at Glasgow University, said: “The heir to the throne has unique access, with the Queen, both to government papers and to ministers. Were they minded to do so, they would be able to use that access to lobby. |
| “The Queen has acted in an exemplary manner by not doing that and Charles should behave like she does. To the extent that he doesn’t, he risks damaging the institution of the monarchy.” | “The Queen has acted in an exemplary manner by not doing that and Charles should behave like she does. To the extent that he doesn’t, he risks damaging the institution of the monarchy.” |
| Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative chairman of the House of Commons constitutional affairs committee, said ministers should have been more open about Charles’s access, but added that it was outrageous to describe him as a lobbyist. Jenkin said: “He only acts in the public interest. It is his view of the public interest but I expect the vast majority of this country support that.” | Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative chairman of the House of Commons constitutional affairs committee, said ministers should have been more open about Charles’s access, but added that it was outrageous to describe him as a lobbyist. Jenkin said: “He only acts in the public interest. It is his view of the public interest but I expect the vast majority of this country support that.” |
| Jenkin is facing calls from a Labour member of his committee, Paul Flynn, to investigate Charles’s access to cabinet papers. Flynn warned that there was “a great nervousness” among parliamentarians about raising the issue of Charles’s interaction with government “because it is so full of matters that are illogical and indefensible and people don’t want to disturb it”. | Jenkin is facing calls from a Labour member of his committee, Paul Flynn, to investigate Charles’s access to cabinet papers. Flynn warned that there was “a great nervousness” among parliamentarians about raising the issue of Charles’s interaction with government “because it is so full of matters that are illogical and indefensible and people don’t want to disturb it”. |
| Ed Davey, the former Liberal Democrat MP, who had two private meetings with Charles while he was secretary of state for energy and climate change, said he was “very relaxed” about Charles receiving the papers. He said Charles was “very well informed and not just from the cabinet papers”. | Ed Davey, the former Liberal Democrat MP, who had two private meetings with Charles while he was secretary of state for energy and climate change, said he was “very relaxed” about Charles receiving the papers. He said Charles was “very well informed and not just from the cabinet papers”. |
| “We were in total agreement on our views and I didn’t feel lobbied,” he said. “If I was against taking action on climate change the meetings might have been more frustrating.” | “We were in total agreement on our views and I didn’t feel lobbied,” he said. “If I was against taking action on climate change the meetings might have been more frustrating.” |